In the Word: Growing in Grace
Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. It is our desire that this series will aid you in getting in the Bible for yourself and discovering the joy that comes from hearing from God through the pages of His Word.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20
READ:
Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes this about the connection:
We have been crucified with Christ— ‘I am crucified with Christ’, says Paul.’ All that has happened to Him has happened to me. I am one with Him.’ …The teaching is that we have died with Christ, have been buried with Christ, have risen with Christ, are seated in the heavenly places in Christ and with Christ. That is the teaching of the Scriptures. ‘Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3. 3). The old man [former self] has been crucified and all that belonged to Christ, you are risen with Christ. ‘Reckon ye yourselves then to be dead unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord’ (Romans 6. 11).
Because of the positional sanctification we have in Christ, and the ultimate sanctification we will experience through Christ in heaven, we consider ourselves alive to God here on earth. We are alive to His ways, His teachings, and His commandments. Through His grace, we are enabled to live a holy life. Charles Spurgeon wrote: “If He gives you the grace to make you believe, He will give you the grace to live a holy life afterward.”
It is our responsibility in this life to grow in grace, and to be changed into the likeness of Christ by the unhindered power of the Spirit. This sanctification is a joint process between the believer, through his striving, and God, through His power and grace. This goal of increasingly becoming more holy and righteous directly correlates to the various forms of suffering in our lives.
Though much of our grief often feels chaotic or uncontrollable, we can control at least one aspect of our grief—our perspective. We can control our perspective and take the one that suffering is a stewardship through which we can follow and trust the Lord. We have this holy charge from the Lord to suffer in a way that makes Him well pleased. May we all have the joy of continuing to learn to be mothers who suffer well.
REFLECT:
- What does 2 Peter 3:18 teach us about growing in grace?
- How can changing our perspective change the way we grieve?
JOURNAL:
Write a prayer, asking the Lord to help you steward your suffering well.
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